Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J. Blackmore, Councillor Joshi, Councillor Westley, Mr Edward Hayes, Rebecca Barrow, Jess Evans and Cem Turhan.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Councillor Naylor and Russell declared non-prejudicial interests in Appendix B ‘Sure Start Capital Strategy 2008-2013’ as they were both members of a Sure Start Governance Board.

Councillor Naylor declared a non-prejudicial interest in Appendix C ‘Options Review:  Riverside Business and Enterprise College’ as he was part of an organisation which used land at the college for its activities.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2009 have been previously circulated and the Board is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2009 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Town Clerk to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council's procedures.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions, representations or statements of case. 

The Service Director, Democratic Services submits a report that updates Members on the monitoring of outstanding petitions.  The Board is asked to note the current outstanding petitions. 

The Service Director, Democratic Services submitted a report that updated Members on the monitoring of outstanding petitions. 

The Service Director, Democratic Services explained that following a request at the previous meeting, the schedule now contained a graphical representation of the current progress on each petition. 

It was reported that some petitions had been submitted to the Council through unauthorised routes.  The Service Director, Democratic Services indicated that Divisional Directors needed to ensure that all petitions were recorded centrally. 

RESOLVED:

                        (1)            That the current outstanding petitions be noted; and

                        (2)            That the Service Director, Democratic Services, be asked                                     to ensure that all petitions were recorded centrally.

The Interim Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services submits a report that informs the Board of the work undertaken to date and proposes how funds may best be deployed to meet the government requirements and contribute to the ‘One-Leicester’ vision.  The Board is asked to note and comment on the report prior to Cabinet consideration. 

The Interim Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services submitted a report that informed the Board of the work undertaken to date and proposed how funds may best be deployed to meet the government requirements and contribute to the ‘One-Leicester’ vision. 

The Head of Service, Early Prevention, introduced the report and explained that the key principles of the Capital Strategy were to improve the early years quality and access for all young children and deliver five children’s’ centres in phase 3 of the programme. 

It was stated that upon completion of phase 3 of the programme, all children will have access to a children centre service and those children living in the most disadvantaged areas will have one within pram pushing distance

Members welcomed the report and the provision of facilities in areas such as Evington Road and Hamilton.  One Member of the Board asked officers to continually liaise with ward councillors in terms of the five new centres.  One Member recommended that the Mayfield Centre be considered for the centre based in the Spinney Hills including Evington Road area. 

A Member of the Board stressed for the need of an outdoor play environment within each of the five new centres.

RESOLVED:

                        That the Sure Start Capital Strategy 2008-2013 be noted.

The Interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services submits a report that summarises conclusions drawn from the options review and recommends an immediate course of action to address the situation.  The Board is asked to note and comment upon this Report, the associated Business Case and the course of action recommended to Cabinet. The Board is also invited to comment upon the nature of any further related consultation exercise.

The Interim Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services submitted a report that summarised conclusions drawn from the options review and recommended an immediate course of action to address the situation. 

The Director of Planning and Commissioning introduced a report and stated that the review had concluded that there were strong educational, financial and business reasons to consider closure of the school. 

Six options for change had been reviewed as follows:

1)Maintain status quo.

2)Provide continued increased financial and other support to the School to ensure it remains viable and achieves sufficient improvements.

3)Federate with a school that is judged to be good or better on the basis of an OfSTED inspection and pupil performance and implement revised governance, leadership and management arrangements.

4)Establish flexible collaborative arrangements amongst other local authority maintained schools.

5)Continue to explore the option of Riverside becoming part of a collaborative Academy and other potential Academies in the City.

6)           Consult upon phased school closure.

Further to these, it was explained that alternative suggestions made by the governing body, school staff and the NUT had also been considered within the business case at Appendix A.

              In reviewing the position at Riverside consideration had been given to educational outcomes, resources deployed and the levels of additional funding to secure these outcomes and indeed the continued operation of the school.

It was reported that in 2007/08 the school had required an additional £250k and in 2008/09  an additional £300k to operate. In September 2009 only 29 pupils had expressed a wish to enter year 7. In 2009/10 and 2010/11 the school is therefore projected to require an additional £815k in each year to continue to operate at its current level.

              The Director of Planning and Commissioning reported that it is judged that the school does not offer value for money and that the Dedicated Schools Grant cannot continue to provide this level of additional support.

              In evaluating options it was stressed that it been determined that the key determining factor must be securing a position that is financially viable, practicable and be in the best long term interests of learners.

              The Director of Planning and Commissioning stated that a report of this nature deals with difficult issues and naturally generates alternative views. Although the governing body do not dispute the basic demographic or financial facts within this report it was reported that the Department had received representations that it now wished to bring before OSMB for its consideration. A separate summary document reproducing these in full was circulated to members.

              The Chair invited Geoff Over, Chair of Governors, to speak on this matter.  He stated that although the admission numbers and financial costs could not be disputed, he felt that some of performance data within the report could be contested, and that a decision on the future of the school should only be taken when accurate position was available.  He felt that the evidence included in the report painted an inaccurate picture  ...  view the full minutes text for item 413.

The Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation submits a report that deals with a petition submitted to officers on 17^th February 2009 by Mr. J. Sader on behalf of residents of French Road.  The Board is asked to consider the decision of the Service Director.

The Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation submitted a report that dealt with a petition submitted to officers on 17^th February 2009 by Mr. J. Sader on behalf of residents of French Road. 

In response to a question from a Member of the Board, it was confirmed that that consultation with the emergency services took place as a matter of course when placing double-yellow lines.

RESOLVED:

                        That the decision of the Service Director to respond to the                               petition by the letter sent to Mr Sader be supported.

The Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation submits a report that deals with a petition submitted to Council on 14^th December 2008 by Mr Praful Thakrar.  The Board is asked to consider the decision of the Service Director.

The Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation submitted a report that dealt with a petition submitted to Council on 14^th December 2008 by Mr Praful Thakrar.

RESOLVED:

                        That the decision of the Service Director to respond to the                               petition by the letter sent to Mr Thakrar be supported.

The Director of Older People’s Services submits a report that describes the proposed use of the provisional capital allocation to EPH’s in 2009/10 budgets, earmarked at £250,000 for the year.  The Board is asked to note and comment on the report prior to Cabinet consideration.

The Director of Older People’s Services submits a report that described the proposed use of the provisional capital allocation to Elderly Persons’ Home’s in 2009/10 budgets, earmarked at £250,000 for the year. 

Members generally welcomed the programme.  Several Members stated that they had visited a number of homes as part of an investigation by the Adults and Housing Task Group. 

RESOLVED:

                        That the report be noted.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing submits a report that provides an update to Members on the tenants’ and leaseholders’ involvement and consultation activities and the result of outcomes in terms of service improvements.  The Board is asked to note and comment on the report prior to Cabinet consideration. 

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing submitted a report that provided an update to Members on the tenants’ and leaseholders’ involvement and consultation activities and the result of outcomes in terms of service improvements.

The Interim Landlord Services Manager introduced the report and stated that it was recommended for the Area Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Forums to merge into the existing Ward Community Meetings, and that consequently, these meetings would serve as the primary consultative mechanism.

Members were generally of the opinion that greater work was needed to encourage the younger generations to participate in Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) activities.

There was also an acceptance that Ward Community Meetings were a suitable arena for Tennant and Resident Issues, but that changes to the overall methods of consultation were required.

Members agreed that prior to the Housing Revenue Account and Housing Capital Programme being considered by the board, officers need to commence consultation with tenants and residents at the earliest possible stage, and that their views be presented to Members.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the outcomes achieved through the new involvement and consultation structure agreed by Cabinet in January; and

(2)               That officers be asked to consult tenants on broader budget issues at the earliest possible stage and that their views be presented to Members.

The Director of Human Resources submits a report that updates Cabinet on the work that had been identified across the organisation in order to progress the ‘quick wins’ identified in the 1 October 2008 Black Workers Group report on Workforce Representation.The Board is asked to note the work that has taken place to progress BME workforce representation.

The Director of Human Resources submitted a report that updated Cabinet on the work that had been identified across the organisation in order to progress the ‘quick wins’ identified in the 1 October 2008 Black Workers Group report on Workforce Representation.

The Head of Equalities introduced the paper and explained that she had been commissioned to undertake a piece of work to increase workforce representation, and that this report formed part of the work.  She reported that similar work in relation to employees with a disability and gay, lesbian and transgender employees was to be undertaken.  

Simon Ighofose, Vice-Chair of the Regeneration and Culture Black Workers’ Group (BWG) was also in attendance and informed members of the ‘reach higher’ initiative, which had been developed by several representatives of the BWG as a means to support candidates to develop their aspirations to progress a career in management. 

Members welcomed the report, and in particular, spoke of their support towards the ‘reach higher’ initiative.  One Member of the Board paid thanks to officers for their work in carrying out additional recruitment activity to widen the pool of applicants for Strategic Director positions.  Furthermore, a Member felt that it was extremely beneficial to promote the council as an employer at community events, and asked officers to liaise with ward councillors when targeting particular events to attend.  Officers welcomed this level of support.

Members asked for regular update reports to be submitted to the Board and it was agreed that a progress report on workforce representation be brought to the board every 6 months.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the report be noted; and

(2)               that progress reports on workforce representation be brought to the board every 6 months.

Councillor Russell, Regeneration and Transport Task Group Leader will provide a verbal update on the Family Friendly City Centre review.

Councillor Russell, Regeneration and Transport Task Group Leader   explained that this review was ongoing and that the Task Group was assessing how access and inclusion projects had met inclusion needs.

Councillor Naylor, Culture and Leisure Task Group Leader and Councillor Russell, Regeneration and Transport Task Group will provide a verbal update on the joint review into Leicester Markets. 

Councillor Russell, Regeneration and Transport Task Group Leader, explained that the Joint Task Group had met recently to look at the variety of goods and services that could be consumed from Leicester Market. 

It was explained that Councillors Naylor and Newcombe had embarked on a site visit to Birmingham Market, and Councillor Russell stated that she was to similarly visit Bury Market.  

A Member of the Board requested that the Markets Forum be kept informed of all developments made with the markets review.

Councillor Russell explained that she was not continuing to lead the Task Group, but that Councillors Naylor and Newcombe would now lead the markets review. 

The Chair thanked all Task Group Leaders for their work over the course of the year.  He welcomed receiving reports from those continuing to lead Task Groups and wished all the best to those existing Task Group Leaders who were taking up alternative roles.

The Chair reminded those Task Group Leaders who were finishing their duties to ensure that all existing work was appropriately carried over to new Task Group Leaders. 

RESOLVED:

                        That the Markets Forum be kept informed of all developments                      made with the markets review.

The meeting closed at 7:50pm.